Viola (Decker) Jantz was born on December 27, 1923 near Galva, the daughter of Irvin and Matilda (Unruh) Decker.  She passed away on May 23, 2023.

Vera lived most of her life in the Montezuma and Copeland area with the exception of two years in Galva and two years in Syracuse.  She grew up south of the Homeland Mennonite Church, which was referred to as the Homeland Farm.  Vera attended grade school at the South Lone Star School.  She was the first of all of her siblings to graduate from high school, graduating from Montezuma High School in 1941.  From there, she went to St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City to become a registered nurse. She was very influential in persuading her two sisters to also pursue nursing degrees.

On August 11, 1945, Vera was united in marriage to Bill Jantz.  Vera recalled that while on their honeymoon in Colorado Springs, word was received that Japan had surrendered to the allies and World War II was over. They were overwhelmed by the celebrating.  It was a feeling they never forgot.  Bill and Vera celebrated 60 years of marriage together.  On March 16, 1950, Vera was baptized into the Church of God in Christ Mennonite by Minister David J. Koehn, remaining faithful to the end.

Mom was an avid quilter and demonstrated it by giving all of her children and grandchildren quilts that she made. We all cherish them.  She loved family reunions on both sides of the family and especially remembered family reunions in Wickenburg, Arizona and Branson , Missouri.

In 1967, mom nearly died as a routine surgery went bad and caused many follow up surgeries and many weeks in the hospital, both in Dodge City and Wichita.  She never complained and enjoyed good health for the remainder of her life until a stroke in May of 2017.  Until then, she could be seen briskly walking the streets of Montezuma for exercise.  Many of the community commented how they wished they could walk at 73 as well as she did at 93.

Mom was a devoted wife and mother.  She was content with the simple things in life and asked very little in the way of material things.  She will be missed but we let her go knowing that at this moment, she is in the presence of God.

Those left to cherish her memories are her family and many friends.  Vera is survived by one son, Ron Jantz and wife Cherie of Wichita; son-in-law, Quincy Smith of Ensign; daughter-in-law, Donna Jantz of Centennial, Colorado; one brother, Dr. Don Decker of Halstead; one sister, Marlene Zusman of Wheat Ridge, Colorado; seven grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; two step-great grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; special family, Marla Dense and family; and numerous nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her husband; parents; son, Gerald Jantz; daughter, Sharon Smith; brothers, Vernon, Raymond, Ardell, and Irvin, Jr.; and a sister, Vivian Decker Pokorny.

Funeral service will be held at Montezuma Mennonite Church on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at  10:30 AM.  Burial will follow at Montezuma Mennonite Cemetery.  Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer's Association  in care of Swaim Funeral Chapel-PO Box 421-Montezuma, Kansas 67867.  Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.